We’re into the business end of the season, but is rugby itself on the verge of its biggest transformation yet? Jim and Goodey dig into the new Premiership franchise model being floated! We chat fan culture, flares, and whether rugby needs a football-style edge in the stands. We also chat about the runs for both the Prem and URC as tams are chasing the final knock out spots. Plus, we’re joined by Indian rugby president, Bollywood star and former international Rahul Bose to talk about the launch o...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 9 min
It’s a global edition of The Rugby Pod as Jim dials in from Texas, Goodey from the UAE, and Biggar from France, fresh off announcing his retirement. We reflect on Bigs’ epic career while diving into the Champions Cup quarter-finals: Leinster and Northampton steamrolled their way to the semis, Bordeaux dazzled in attack to beat Munster, and Toulouse edged Toulon in a French classic. We celebrate standout players like Jordie Barrett and Henry Pollock, talk bizarre ref calls, and ask - can anyone s...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 14 min
This week on The Rugby Pod, Goodey returns to the studio fresh off Champions Cup knockouts, while Big Jim dials in from Austin, Texas. The lads dive into Munster’s gritty win in La Rochelle, Saints turning the tables on Clermont with a Tommy Freeman masterclass, and Warriors lighting up Glasgow with some flair. We also celebrate the dramatic revival of Worcester Warriors, chatting to new CEO Stephen Vaughan about rebuilding the club, how they managed to get straight back into the Championship, a...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 9Ep. 29
This week on The Rugby Pod, Jim’s a new man after Hong Kong – writing poems, 5 am gym sessions, and solving riddles. Goodey gives his take on Andy Farrell’s newly-named Lions coaching ticket, and we dissect what it means for squad selection. Rob’s sniffing out the latest on some massive player moves – Finn Russell to where?! Plus, we dig into all the Prem and URC action, Sweeney staying, Henry Pollock’s a red jersey bolter, Bath looking unstoppable and Leinster young guns showing up against the ...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Jim and Goodey unpack a massive weekend of rugby, starting with Quins pulling off their first away win over Saracens in 13 years at The Showdown in front of 54,000 fans — and with a few famous faces in the crowd too. Jim spills the beans on the London craic and post-match scenes, while the lads debate what went right for Quins and wrong for Sarries. There's more drama in the Prem as Leicester smash Saints, Bath flex against Glos, and Bristol and Exeter set a new record with ten first-half tries....
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 20 min
This week on The Rugby Pod, we wrap up an action-packed final round Six Nations action, with France lifting the trophy in Paris, England finishing second after their biggest-ever win over Wales, and Ireland pushed hard by Italy in Rome. Dan Biggar joins to break down England’s resurgence, and Wales’ ongoing struggles. Jim and Goodey also dive into France’s triumph over Scotland, some refereeing controversies, and what’s next for Gregor Townsend’s side. Plus, Scotland and Saracens’ Andy Onyeama-C...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 17 min
Dan Biggar catches up with Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll to chat Ireland's Six Nations as well as giving his take on the current best centre pairings in the game. They take a walk down memory lane, revisiting Lions tours of the past, as well as discussing some of the harshest on field banter they experienced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 13, 2025•52 min
We break down all the action from the penultimate round of Six Nations action, including France's blitz in Dublin, where a 7-1 bench gamble paid off against Ireland. England finally let loose at Allianz Stadium against Italy, with Ollie Chessum laying down a marker and Marcus Smith getting fans on their feet. Meanwhile, Scotland made it three in a row against Wales, albeit a second-half wobble highlighted some squad issues. The lads look ahead to the final round and ask can England or Ireland st...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Dan Biggar catches up with Wallabies legend Matt Giteau to chat Six Nations, the Lions, Aussie rugby as well as his stellar career. Gits gives an Aussie perspective on the potential Lions squad, including Marcus Smith’s versatility and shift to full-back, Prendgergast's development post Sexton, and how both Smith and Prendergast's journey's compare to his his own as a young Wallaby surrounded by legends like Larkham and Greegan. He also picks his dream Lions backline for the tour. Plus, he gives...
Mar 07, 2025•43 min
The lads are back and feeling fresh from some winter sun in Miami and the Cayman Islands, and ready for a massive few weeks. With no Six Nations action last weekend, we’re taking a look at who has put their names forward for the Lions squad, including the big calls at 8 and 10. We’ll also preview this weekend’s massive matchups, with a bit of beef in the build up to Ireland v France) love to see it. The lads ask if Scotland need a statement win, or can Wales build on their momentum from their re...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 15 min
England have finally got their hands back on the Calcutta Cup, but was it Scotland throwing it away or England winning it? We get Jim’s take on a gut-wrenching defeat for the Scots and whether Finn’s Lions hopes have taken a hit, and Goodey and Bigs give their take on the England perfroemance. Wales put in a much-improved performance against Ireland—are they turning a corner? Ireland reclaims the triple crown with another strong performance from Prendergast. And France absolutely battered Italy ...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 9Ep. 23
After a cracking day of Six Nations action, we hear from the coaches and captains in the aftermath. Borthwick & Itjoe react to England’s performance, while Gregor Townsend gives Scotland's take on their disappointment and some big decisions. Matt Sherratt and Jack Morgan reflect on Wales’ incredible resurgence in Cardiff and whether he's considering making the role more permanent, while Simon Easterby and Dan Sheehan give their take on the atmosphere and another Irish victory and Triple Crown. L...
Feb 23, 2025•26 min
The Six Nations is back this weekend, but there’s been plenty to talk about off it too. Warren Gatland has walked just days after Wales’ 14th straight defeat—Bigs gives us the inside track on what really went down. We break down what his departure means for Wales, the impact of interim boss Matt Sherratt, and whether it gives them any hope against Ireland. Then, it’s all about the Calcutta Cup. England are riding high after their win over France, but could another loss to Scotland derail their p...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 9Ep. 22
Dan Biggar sits down with England legend Johnny Wilkinson for an exclusive chat on The Pod. The two fly-halves go deep into the pressures of international rugby and the mindset needed to perform at the highest level. Wilkinson reveals the best captain and leader he played under, the scrum-halves that got the best out of him, as well as his iconic Toulon team talk. The lads share stories about the coaches that got the best out of them and Bigs also gets Wilkinson’s take on Andy Farrell, Ireland, ...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min
The lads are on great form after a cracking weekend of Six Nations ruggers. They were at Allianz stadium for England v France, so they chat about the electric atmosphere and break down an England win in the context of the tournament, but also in terms of the Borthwick and Itoje eras — we also look at whether Finn Smith has cemented himself as the 10 over Marcus. We cover Ireland's impressive performance in Scotland as Prendergast continues his march as Sexton's successor. Jim gives his take on w...
Feb 11, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 9Ep. 21
Dan Biggar and Andy Goode are back to break down a massive weekend in the Six Nations. England welcome France to Allianz Stadium in a crunch match that could shape the title race for both teams— Can England’s new-look attack deliver? Scotland face Ireland in Edinburgh, where the Scots are desperate to derail Irish Grand Slam hopes. And in Rome, Wales have no room for error in a must-win clash against Italy. Biggar gives his take on what Wales need to fix, Goodey gives his England-French thoughts...
Feb 06, 2025•51 min
Round one is done and dusted and how good is it to have the Six Nations back on our screens?! England showed some promise in the first half against Ireland, but a second-half fight back saw the hosts turn things around in Dublin—what went wrong for Borthwick’s men, and how did Ireland’s bench make the difference? Scotland made hard work of it against Italy but eventually pulled away, with Huw Jones stepping up in Tuipulotu’s absence. Meanwhile, France absolutely dismantled Wales in Paris—are the...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 9Ep. 20
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Feb 03, 2025•21 min
This week on The Rugby Pod, we’ve got a very special guest – we're joined by one of the most decorated and toughest coaches in either code of rugby, the legendary Shaun Edwards OBE. From his Wales Grand Slam-winning years to building France’s defensive juggernaut, Shaun gives us an insight into what makes him one of the sharpest minds in the game. Dan Biggar gets stuck in with his old coach, reminiscing about their first meeting in Wales camp, Shaun’s no-nonsense approach, and his famous defence...
Jan 29, 2025•51 min
It’s Six Nations Eve, and the lads are buzzing for Round 1! The lads will be previewing round one, including a massive showdown in Dublin between Ireland and England, Scotland's Italian test and France v Wales. We'll also be asking if the Premiership is the right prep for test rugby, if rugby has dropped the ball with Netflix? And what happens if the Six Nations goes behind a paywall? Plus, we’ve got opening weekend predictions, Gatland’s coaching shake-up, and picks for Grand Slam contenders, P...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 9Ep. 19
Jim, Goodey, Bigs, and Rob are back in the studio to dissect the Six Nations squads and preview the tournament in this massive Lions year. The lads chat England captaincy, a massive injury for Scotland, Ireland's 10 question, and Welsh woes. We also review all the drama from the final round of Champions Cup group games and chat with Saints’ rising star Henry Pollock about his standout season and his England ambitions, plus we look ahead to some blockbuster Round of 16 clashes. Sit back, enjoy, a...
Jan 21, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 9Ep. 18
Jim’s dialling in from Spotify HQ in the USA, and Goodey’s fresh off a busy Champions Cup weekend. We’re diving into all the action, including Leinster’s brutal bust-up against La Rochelle, Glasgow's big win against Racing, and Freddie Steward’s Six Nations stock is rising after Leicester's win against Ulster. Plus, Junior Kpoku—England U20 star and Racing 92 powerhouse—joins us to chat about life in the TOP14, who's England jersey he's coming for, and what’s next for the 6ft 8 phenom. Also on t...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 9Ep. 17
The lads are back from their festive break and after some holiday chat, we dive straight into some rogue rugby predictions for 2025 including whether the Boks might join the Six Nations, Lions Tour predictions and which team the Saudis are buying. We’ll also take a look at the Prem, URC, TOP14 over the Xmas period. We also catch up with Andre Esterhuizen to talk Sharks, life in South Africa, and preparing for Toulouse in the Champions Cup. Don’t forget to get your tickets for our live shows on T...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 9Ep. 16
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and The Rugby Pod is bringing you the End of Year Awards & Christmas Special! Jim, Goodey, and Producer Rob look back on the highs, lows, and downright bizarre moments of 2024 with plenty of laughs. From Ireland’s epic comeback in South Africa to the RFU’s financial skid marks, nothing is off-limits in this festive rugby roundup. Who’s the player you’d least want to tackle? Who bagged the Shithouse of the Year award? Plus, we debate the best rigs, breakt...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 7 min
The lads dissect a big weekend of Champions Cup rugby. Jim shares some tales from his trip to Paree for the Saracens game, while Goodey has been on the road too. We break down Saracens’ win over Stade Français, Sale’s performance against Racing 92, and England's overall dominance over South African opposition, including Northampton grinding out a win over the Bulls, and Leicester running riot against the Sharks. We give our take on the South African struggles in European competitions and Plumtre...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 9Ep. 15
It’s blowing a gale both on and off the pitch. Goodey’s been on the wet and windy road between London, Bath and Glasgow for the opening round of the Champions Cup, while Jim's tweeting up his own storm over rugby platforms and where fans can watch all the action. We cover all the action, including Saracens win and Tom Willis' England shout, Bordeaux overpowering Leicester, Leinster's Guinness bomb squad doing the business, and some WWE action in Thomand Park. Plus, Toulouse and Scotland All-Star...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 9Ep. 14
We’re back with a packed episode! Jim and Goodey dissect Ireland’s final Autumn Nations match against the Wallabies, Caelan Doris’ Lions captaincy credentials, and Schmidt’s revivied Wallabies. Stephen Ferris joins to rate Ireland’s performances, chat about rising star Sam Prendergast, and debate the Lions back row for 2025. Plus, Champions Cup dark horses, RFU bonuses, and your listeners' questions—Yorkshire puddings, best tours, and pre-Lions selection matches.Enjoy Learn more about your ad ch...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 9Ep. 13
This week, we recap all the winners from the World Rugby Awards from Monaco including player of the year, Coach of the year and the XV Dream Team. On the pitch, England snapped their losing streak with a commanding win over Japan and some bright shoots, but defensive woes remain under scrutiny. Scotland set a record nine wins this year with a lot of players setting down a marker for Lions selection against Australia. South Africa’s stock keeps rising after their perfect tour with a hammering of ...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 9Ep. 13
Jim and Bigs are joined in studio by Aussie legends Matt Gitaeu and Drew Mitchell to chat about their Northern Tour on and off the pitch. The lads give some great insight into the Aussie revival, where it's come from and what it means for the Lions Tour. Plus the lads share some cracking stories on dodgy physios in France, playing in the US, and a punch-up last week in Cardiff. Bigs gives us his thoughts on another disastrous Welsh performance and what it means for Gats and Welsh fans, plus we l...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr 20 min
The lads are feeling inspired after an epic cross-code weekend for the MND charity game in Leeds, before crashing back down to earth with another England loss. We break down all the weekend’s matches including Ireland’s patchy win over Argentina, England’s defensive frailties against South Africa, and Wales’ drubbing by Australia. The lads discuss who England and Wales might be approaching as their potential saviour. Plus, we look at the hype and the off-field drama from France’s thriller agains...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 9Ep. 11
